Do You Believe In Polygraph Test?

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I wasn't sure where this subject should go, but science seemed appropriate. If not, I'm hoping Ken will place it where it belongs.

I've seen polygraph test used in different ways. For job interviews and issues, in our legal system, even parents having their children tested. Of course we always see it in TV shows, and the impression is that passing or failing the test is proof of guilt or innocence. What do you think? Do you believe the polygraph is a valid test?

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Ina I believe they can be used as a tool to help assess the quilt or innocence but it can be fooled in either direction. So I think that it should only be used as part of a larger group of investigative tools.

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I have seen a documentary about that lie detector test. As per the explanation of the show's narrator, the polygraph is influenced by several factors such as heartbeat (or pulse rate), body temperature and some other factors that I already forgot. In other words, it is a combination of factors. However, the resulting graph is only suggestive and not conclusive.

You are right on that, @Chrissy Page, that's also what I know. But when the polygraph test becomes a perfect tool to detect if a person is telling the truth or lying then trial lawyers be jobless.

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I had one job in the past that considered using it as a tool on employees. I told them (I worked in corporate security at the time) that I'd quit before subjecting myself to the test. I don't recall now what use they were considering it for, whether hiring/promoting or determining theft guilt or use of drugs or other criminal activity (we saw plenty of all among the various employees over the years), but I tend to get anxious, and wouldn't trust it for use on people who do. There are ways to fool the test, and there are reasons it's not admissible in court, and that's good enough for me.

I do think it can serve as one tool for investigators, but I don't consider it reliable enough to be used as a single measure. I think is is probably being phased out in many cases, other than perhaps criminal investigations.

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I've had three polygraphs, and failed all three. The first was when I was 11, and CPS tested the kids in the home I was in, it concerned the foster father. Didn't pass, and was transferred to another foster home. The second was when I was working for a convenience store. Someone stole some money orders. I proved I was off visiting in Louisiana for the week that the theft happened, or I would have been charged with the crime. The third was for a job interview in the accounting department of the city of Houston. Didn't pass, and didn't get the job either.

Now I just say no to polygraphs. I don't know why I can't pass those darn test, but I can't.

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I think in general they are reliable but they have their problems. This is why they aren't admissable in court. I have never had to take one. I do pay attention to them a great when they are used in criminal investigations though because it seems like the person who fails it is generally the guilty party. I watch alot of those crime shows on TV So this is something that I pay a lot of attention to.

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I've never been asked to take a polygraph test and I worked in the largest bank in Chicago in the early 70's. I was in securities and collections and was in a fairly large cubicle that was always locked
And you had to use your key every time you left and came back. I dealt with the copies of the money transactions from big names like Goldman Sachs, Solomon Bros., etc.

At the end of the day I had to balance with my boss who handled the actually transaction. Every day the amount was in the millions and one wrong number put into the adding machine and you weren't going home til the mistake was found. I hated that job. The only good thing about it was being in downtown Chicago and going out to lunch with a few friends to some neat restaurants. Italian village was a favorite.

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Precisely the point @Joe Riley! If we answered the question proposed by the OP truthfully but was suspected of prevaracation then where indeed would we be? I think the proper way of addressing the situation at hand would be to ask the question: Do lie detectors need lie detectors to make sure they are telling the truth regarding their assessment of a client suspected of telling the truth or a lie? And, are we speaking of little Johnny lies or Big Hillary lies?

Now, in order to answer this question properly and if we do things the way that our government prescribes, we must appoint a committee which appoints a sub-committee which submits a grant request from Congress who we know are going to lie without any testing, but will give us the necessary funds to pay off the main committee to keep them from lying about the eventual findings regarding the topic at hand. (whew!)

But, to make it short, "do I believe in lie detector tests"? It totally depends on the situation. If I am telling the truth they are pretty accurate but if I am lying I am dern well sure that they do not work at all !!

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Ha ha, Bobby! I feel the same way. You would know though that I'm lying because I'm not good at it, don't need a machine, just look at my face....I'll be blushing and will avoid making eye contact...probably talk too fast.

Of course online it's easier. I actually believe I look like my avatar.

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